KSR recently received the following guest post from a well-known celebrity who, for the sake of anonymity, we will call an “award-winning producer.” This person is not a longtime Kentucky basketball fan, nor are they from the state of Kentucky. They have just been following the Cats from afar with respect for what John Calipari is doing in Lexington, and wanted to share their thoughts with Big Blue Nation.
Teaching is the most noble profession, and being innovative, let alone successful, while in the public light creates an enormous amount of jealousy. ‘One and done’ is a media made expression that is simplistic because it is designed to create negative connotations while giving short shift to the families and children. Yes, I consider 18-year-old young men, children, almost all from diverse backgrounds; the criticism negates the reality of their lives, whether the child comes from a poor home or just wants to follow his dream, love and passion.
I don’t think any rational person could argue that all kids wouldn’t be emotionally, socially and culturally better off in many ways by enjoying the college experience for a longer period of time. Nor can anyone intelligently say, under the right coach, kids don’t learn more and improve their game by remaining in college. But these are the rules and the circumstances, so along comes John Calipari, a proven winner with flair and style, whose achievements are too often overlooked because of his SUCCESS. He has to have steel balls and an iron stomach. If he truly is the poster boy then he has had to reinvent himself, redesign his team and his students, reteach himself every year without losing his enthusiasm and passion. That’s quite an achievement in a culture of ‘expectations.’
The game has always had rebellious winners who have gone against the grain; however, the barriers, which a Frank McGuire faced, bringing NYC Catholic and Jewish players to the south in the mid-1950s, or Don Haskins, starting five black kids at a Texas school in the mid-1960s, or John Thompson, whose entire team was comprised of African-American kids in the 1970s and 80s, causing nasty racist backlash are over.
So, who is the successful pioneer today that losers need to be critical of? John Calipari. He shares the characteristics of these other three Hall of Famers. He has gone against the grain of popular belief and he has WON. Eight of ten coaches wouldn’t have won with the same talent. It’s one thing for the ‘conductor’ to recruit the best orchestra in the world, it’s an entirely different thing for those horns, those violins and cellos to be in harmony. Point is, ‘one and done’ is meaningless. It’s media made and robs the coach and his players of the true teachings, efforts, obstacles, and challenges, and those are real.
It’s difficult enough to be 17 or 18 , leave home, live elsewhere, start school, be thrown into hugely competitive waters, let alone be taught and learn to lose your individuality to be part of a championship. This is what Calipari does, year after year, season after season. All the hype around ‘the Fab Five’… Guess what? They didn’t win. Kentucky has won and, frankly, even if they don’t capture the title this weekend, they WON. They have accomplished something deeper. They all learned lessons, coaches, players and families which will stay with them for the remainder of their lives. ‘One and done’ is bullsh-t. What isn’t is ‘work ethic,’ ‘selflessness,’ ‘giving,’ ‘teaching,’ and ‘character.’ That is Calipari’s legacy. I’m sure if he was around in the 50s and 60s and 70s, he would have departed from the status quo to truly embrace his students in different ways. I hope these kids who experience him understand at a certain point of their lives the opportunity to learn and grown he has given them.
Article written by
Cat fan foremost and forever.
I don’t know who the author is but it is but the piece is spot on. Go Cats!
And this clearly was written by actor/producer Angelina Jolie, who wants to play Ellen Calipari in the “John Calipari Story,” opposite her partner Brad Pitt, in the starring role.
I have believed in Coach Cal since he produced so well at UMass and Memphis. It became difficult with the early losses; however, he has pulled this team through some extremely rough waters in this NCAA tourney. The two AA’s committee set him up to fail after his team fell out of the top 25. Now let’s seed him out of here, they thought.
I picked UK all the way and have won one pool and still lead another by sticking with Coach Cal!